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hayley_henderson22's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
blondeturtle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.0
clairewilsonleeds's review against another edition
5.0
This book tied up a lot of the stuff I have been going over in my head for a while around the problems with psychiatry and drugs. Lots of stuff that I already knew/thought (which was great as I felt validated), but the focus on so-called schizophrenia gave me a new perspective on psychosis, and I thought Filer wrote with compassion and empathy in his case studies.
I'll be recommending this.
I'll be recommending this.
joe_thomas25's review against another edition
5.0
Former mental health nurse Nathan Filer is best known for his critically-acclaimed, Costa Prize-winning debut novel The Shock of the Fall, which took the world by storm in 2013. It was a sensitive, enlightening look at mental illness from the perspective of a sufferer, and so it's not a huge surprise that Filer turned to non-fiction for his follow-up. Originally published last year as Heartland, this book is based on Filer's own experiences working as a mental health nurse, and focuses specifically on the idea of schizophrenia in many forms.
Previous books I've read in this area have been more wide-ranging studies of mental illness in general, and choosing to focus on schizophrenia and psychosis in particular was an interested choice, but it's hugely paid off. It's allowed Filer to build a very clever structure, telling the story of someone affected by psychosis - whether it be a young fashion journalist, a nurse or a parent - and then springboarding from their stories into a discussion of a wider issue such as the whole idea of diagnosis or the idea of stigma around mental health. I found it a very satisfying approach, providing moving personal stories with more scientific and philosophical content.
The personal stories themselves are absolutely heartbreaking, and Filer dedicates a good 20-30 pages to each, which really allows the reader to connect with the subject. In particular, the chapter where Filer interviews a mother who lost her son to suicide after years of psychosis is devastating. Filer shares a letter than the mother wrote to her son shortly after his death, where she shares her regrets and sadness, along with happiness that he was now free. She was heartbroken that he'd died but glad that he didn't have to carry on living the life he'd been living. It's such a raw examination of grief and mental health that will stay with me for a long time.
The ruminations are interesting, though their more scientific nature renders them slightly more arduous to read. In particular I found Filer's comparison of the UK v US systems very interesting. British mental health professionals don't necessarily agree with many of the approaches taken by the US industry, but to get into US journals, you have to use US definitions and approaches, and they need to get into these journals to secure research funding or to secure prestige in the field, which then perpetuates the cycle. It's an interesting insider look at how the industry works and how such outdated ideas can be maintained.
What rings out most is the sensitivity and compassion that Filer has for those struggling with psychosis, from those he interviews to those he treated himself as a nurse. The work is bookended by a discussion of a patient he was forcibly medicating, at a doctor's orders, and the impact it had not only on the patient but on him too. He also talks about the vast variety of effectiveness that medication can have - for some patients it changes their life for the better, for others the side effects are too horrendous to ever be mitigated by the mental health benefits. Who can make the decision as to when to force this medication? Are we doing good with so much reliance on chemistry?
Perhaps the most moving part of the entire work, and what I'll take away with me, is a very short passage where Filer discusses diagnosis and labels. He says that even the phrase 'mental illness' to describe someone suffering from psychosis or schizophrenia might be the wrong approach. Mental illness is simply a brain working in a different way to most people's, but does that mean their brain is working 'wrong'? Or do they just work differently? Is terming this an 'illness' a problem in the first case? It's a fascinating philosophical question and one that I've struggled to reconcile myself.
I love medical non-fiction and analyses of mental health such as this, and even among a crowded genre I would recommend this highly as both a moving and informative look at an issue that a surprising number of us will experience in our lives.
Previous books I've read in this area have been more wide-ranging studies of mental illness in general, and choosing to focus on schizophrenia and psychosis in particular was an interested choice, but it's hugely paid off. It's allowed Filer to build a very clever structure, telling the story of someone affected by psychosis - whether it be a young fashion journalist, a nurse or a parent - and then springboarding from their stories into a discussion of a wider issue such as the whole idea of diagnosis or the idea of stigma around mental health. I found it a very satisfying approach, providing moving personal stories with more scientific and philosophical content.
The personal stories themselves are absolutely heartbreaking, and Filer dedicates a good 20-30 pages to each, which really allows the reader to connect with the subject. In particular, the chapter where Filer interviews a mother who lost her son to suicide after years of psychosis is devastating. Filer shares a letter than the mother wrote to her son shortly after his death, where she shares her regrets and sadness, along with happiness that he was now free. She was heartbroken that he'd died but glad that he didn't have to carry on living the life he'd been living. It's such a raw examination of grief and mental health that will stay with me for a long time.
The ruminations are interesting, though their more scientific nature renders them slightly more arduous to read. In particular I found Filer's comparison of the UK v US systems very interesting. British mental health professionals don't necessarily agree with many of the approaches taken by the US industry, but to get into US journals, you have to use US definitions and approaches, and they need to get into these journals to secure research funding or to secure prestige in the field, which then perpetuates the cycle. It's an interesting insider look at how the industry works and how such outdated ideas can be maintained.
What rings out most is the sensitivity and compassion that Filer has for those struggling with psychosis, from those he interviews to those he treated himself as a nurse. The work is bookended by a discussion of a patient he was forcibly medicating, at a doctor's orders, and the impact it had not only on the patient but on him too. He also talks about the vast variety of effectiveness that medication can have - for some patients it changes their life for the better, for others the side effects are too horrendous to ever be mitigated by the mental health benefits. Who can make the decision as to when to force this medication? Are we doing good with so much reliance on chemistry?
Perhaps the most moving part of the entire work, and what I'll take away with me, is a very short passage where Filer discusses diagnosis and labels. He says that even the phrase 'mental illness' to describe someone suffering from psychosis or schizophrenia might be the wrong approach. Mental illness is simply a brain working in a different way to most people's, but does that mean their brain is working 'wrong'? Or do they just work differently? Is terming this an 'illness' a problem in the first case? It's a fascinating philosophical question and one that I've struggled to reconcile myself.
I love medical non-fiction and analyses of mental health such as this, and even among a crowded genre I would recommend this highly as both a moving and informative look at an issue that a surprising number of us will experience in our lives.
maxreads74's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
lauraisbetteroffread's review
5.0
One of my favourite reads of the year. An entertaining but heartwarming look into the psychology of schizophrenia. Its impact, potential causes, and an analysis of the current diagnosis and treatment. Deeply interesting and important read.